Form for concrete steps

ABSTRACT

A form for producing concrete steps as an integral unit with risers, steps and a platform, if desired, utilizing inner and outer form or mold members with the inner form member adjustable transversely so that the width of the steps to be produced can be selected to suit and the same form utilized for a variety of steps of differing widths.

United States Patent [1 1 McLoughlin [451 Feb. 4, 1975 FORM FOR CONCRETE STEPS [76] Inventor: Bernard J. McLoughlin, 10 Hudson Dr., Troy, NY. 12180 [22] Filed: Jan. 2', 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 429,961

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No 128,028, March 25,

1971, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 249/184, 249/14 [51] Int. Cl B281) 7/28 [58] Field of Search 249/14, 83, 184,160, 161,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,012,735 12/1911 Smock 249/14 1,253,333 Barker 249/184 1,655,629 1/1928 Senesac 249/184 X 1,798,670 3/1931 Hall 249/184 1,814,738 7/1931 Penote 249/184 2,857,646 10/1958 McLoughlin 249/14 3,147,531 9/1964 Lyons 249/14 Primary Examiner-Francis S. Husar Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown ABSTRACT A form for producing concrete steps as an integral unit with risers, steps and a platform, if desired, utilizing inner and outer form or mold members with the inner form member adjustable transversely so that the width of the steps to be produced can be selected tosuit and the same form utilized for a variety of steps of differing widths.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures FORM FOR CONCRETE STEPS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of US. Application Ser. No. 128,028, filed Mar. 25, 1971 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A flight of steps leading to an entrance is frequently referred to as a stoop and generally consists of steps, risers and platform. Frequently, a hand rail is present. When stoops are produced from poured concrete, molds or forms are used to hold the poured concrete in position until it hardens. Forms utilized for this purpose can be built or made on thejob site, they can be assembled from certain preconstructed parts or the complete form can be manufactured elsewhere and transported to the job site for production of the stoop. The latter, of course, is the most economical since the labor at the job site is reduced. The pre-built form, however, must be simple to assemble at the job site.

When a pre-built form is utilized, the form must be selected to conform to the conditions at the job site and to provide the desired end result in stoop construction. It is desirable, therefore, that any form for this purpose have a large degree of flexibility in providing the desired number of steps and stoop width. In jobs of this type, the determination in advance of the height of the stoop and the number of steps is less ofa problem than determination of the precise stoop width. Although many forms for producing steps of this type are available, a satisfactory form providing for adjustment and selection of width at the job site has not heretofore been provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A form for molding concrete steps as an integral unit including a base member forming the inner side of the form, with the base member being comprised ofa plurality of elements and each of two of these elements including a base member side wall, a base member tread extending from the base member side wall and a base member riser extending from the base memberside wall and joined to and forming an angle with the base member tread, the base member treads and risers of adjacent elements being in sliding engagement allowing.

the distance between the base member side walls to be modified, also included are outer side wall members which provide the outer side walls of the form and riser members corresponding in number to the number of base member risers and means are provided for securing the outer side wall members and the outer riser members in space relation to the base member.

When the term concrete is used herein, it should be understood that the term is used since presently the majority of moldable stoops are formed of concrete, however, it should be understood that steps and stoops produced of various plastic and other materials can be utilized in place of concrete and still come within the scope of this invention as defined by the claims which follow the description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the form which is the subject of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view ofa stoop molded in the form shown in FIG. 1 wherein the stoop consists of two steps, side walls and a platform at the top thereof;

FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view of the form with inner and outer members assembled in position and concrete within the mold; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view from above of the form with inner and outer members assembled in position and concrete within the mold illustrating a side wall and the means for securing the outer riser members to the side wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A concrete stoop produced with the form which is the subject of this invention is shown in FIG. 2 consisting of stoop side walls 10 and 12, stoop platform 14 and two steps. Stoop treads l6 and Marc seen in FIG. 2. Stoop risers 20, 22 and 24 are indicated in FIG. 2 but seen better, however, in FIG. 3. This stoop has two steps and a platform. It is understood, however, that this particular stoop is illustrated for descriptive purposes only and that the invention may be utilized in production of stoops of varying numbers of steps and with or without a platform.

The mold from which the stoop illustrated in FIG. 2 is produced is shown in exploded view in FIG. I and consists essentially of a base member 26 forming the inner side of the form, first and secondouter side walls 28 and 30 forming the outer side walls of the form, and outer riser members 32, 34and 36.-

The base member 26 is comprised of a plurality of elements 38, 40 and 42. Element 38 includes base member side wall 44, base member platform 46, base member treads 48 and 50 extending from side wall 44 and base member risers 52, 54 and 56 which also extend from side wall 44'and join to and form angles with respective base members treads. Riser 56 forms an angle with tread 50, riser 54 forms an angle with tread 48 and riser 52 forms an angle with base 46 these angles being right angles although the angles can be different, if-desired.

Likewise, element 42 includes a side wall 58, base member platform 60, base member treads 62 and 64 and base member risers 66, 68 and 70. Element 40 does not include a side wall but does include a base member platform 72, treads 74 and 76 and risers 78, 80 and 82.

The base member 26 is preferably formed of steel plates or sheets of a suitable gauge and as seen in FIG. 1, the base member treads and risers of adjacent elements are in sliding engagement allowing the distance between the base member side walls 44and'58 to be modified since the elements 38 and 42can be moved in accordion fashion by sliding beneath element 40. As illustrated herein, elements 38, 40 and 42 are present, however, within the concept of this invention additional elements can be utilized the requirement being that the side elements have base member side walls and the treads and risers of adjacent elements be in sliding engagement. Of course, where a platform is present, it too must be in sliding engagement as are the treads.

Since the platform may be required to support greater loads than the treads, there is provided in the platform part of the base member two triangular troughs 84 and 86 in which reinforcing bars may be inserted, if desired, thus forming beam-like strengthening portions integral with the platform of the steps.

The outer side walls 28 and 30 are secured to the base member 26 in spaced relation thereto in similar manner. The outer riser members 32, 34 and 36 are also secured in spaced relation to the base member.

As seen in the Pigs, securing members 88, 90 and 92 are attached to side wall 28 which has cut away zones providing a configuration which is complimentary to the configuration of the steps desired. Studs 94 are provided upon the riser members 32, 34 and 36. Members 88, 90 and 92 are provided with holes through which the studs 94 pass to be secured by means of nuts cooperating therewith-not shown-to members 88, 90 and 92. Likewise, the remaining ends of the riser members have studs 96 projecting therefrom which can hereceived in the holes of securing members 98, 100 and 102 which are fastened to side wall 30 and secured thereto by means of nuts.

If it is desired, stud-bearing members 104 and 106 can be utilized to enclose the poured concrete in the rear. These members are respectively fastened to side walls 28 and 30 by studs 108 and 110 fastened thereto. Also, if it is necessary, the bottoms of the spaces between members 28 and 30 and the side walls of the base element are closed by the members 110 which can be secured to the base member by means of studs passing through openings in the side wall members 110 and the base member. Likewise, the bottom of the space between the lower riser member 32 and the base member 26 can be closed by member 112.

Reinforcing elements can be used throughout to strengthen the steps as desired.

1 claim:

1. A form for molding concrete steps as an integral unit including in combination: a base member forming the inner side of said form, first, second and third base member elements of said base member, each of said first and second base member elements including a base member side wall, a base member tread extending from said base member side wall, and a base member riser extending from said base member side wall and joined to and forming an angle with said base member tread, the respective base member treads and respective risers of said first and second base member elements being aligned, said third base member element including a base member tread and a riser, slideable means whereby said first and second base member elements can be relatively slideably moved from a position of abutment to a spaced position, said third base member element continually with portions of the tread and riser thereof in abutment respectively with the treads and risers of said first and second base member element and said base member treads and risers providing a continuous concrete receiving surface of said base member whereby concrete can be applied directly thereto; first and second outer side wall members forming the outer side walls of said form; means for securing said outer side wall members in spaced relation to respective base member side walls; outer riser members corresponding in number to the number of base member risers of said base member; and means for securing said outer riser members in spaced relation to respective base member risers. 

1. A form for molding concrete steps as an integral unit including in combination: a base member forming the inner side of said form, first, second and third base member elements of said base member, each of said first and second base member elements including a base member side wall, a base member tread extending from said base member side wall, and a base member riser extending from said base member side wall and joined to and forming an angle with said base member tread, the respective base member treads and respective risers of said first and second base member elements being aligned, said third base member element including a base member tread and a riser, slideable means whereby said first and second base member elements can be relatively slideably moved from a position of abutment to a spaced position, said third base member element continually with portions of the tread and riser thereof in abutment respectively with the treads and risers of said first and second base member element and said base member treads and risers providing a continuous concrete receiving surface of said base member whereby concrete can be applied directly thereto; first and second outer side wall members forming the outer side walls of said form; means for securing said outer side wall members in spaced relation to respective base member side walls; outer riser members corresponding in number to the number of base member risers of said base member; and means for securing said outer riser members in spaced relation to respective base member risers. 